‘Magnifico’ Spain and Portugal 19 Inspiring Days – Madrid to Madrid

Albatross gives you more… • Stay in specially selected, authentic hotels, Pousadas, Paradors and even a heritage listed Palace · Spend 2 nights in Granada, visit the Alhambra Palace and the Gardens of the Generalife, Cordoba's huge Mesquita-Cathedral and Ronda · Stay 3 nights in Seville, visit Cadiz, sip sherry in a Bodega in Jerez and enjoy a Spanish Flamenco dinner show · Enjoy 2 nights in Évora, visit Merida and Estremoz , the 'marble town' · Sleep 3 nights in a Palace in Lisbon, enjoy Pastel de Nata, see the Monument to the Discoveries, Belem Tower, visit Jeronimos Monastery, the Palace de Pena in Sintra and experience a traditional Portuguese Fado dinner show · Visit medieval Obidos, the fishing village of Nazaré, and take a funicular up to Sitia

Giralda, Seville

· Relax over 3 nights in Porto, visit Braga's Bom Jesus Sanctuary, historical Guimarães, and taste Vinho Verde at Aveleda Wine Estate · Spend 2 nights relaxing in Salamanca, experience a picnic lunch cruise on the Alto Douro, visit El Valle de los Caidos and El Escorial · Over 2 nights in Toledo visit the extraordinary cathedral and enjoy a farewell dinner with dramatic city views

The Albatross Difference Genuinely Inclusive

Less time on coaches, average 149 kms travelled per day

Max 30 passengers for a more personal touring experience

Over $1,800 value of extras included with no hidden costs

DAY 1 MADRID Your tour commences this evening with a welcome drink and dinner in your central Madrid hotel. This is an ideal chance to meet, and get to know, your Tour Manager and fellow travellers. (D) Your hotel in Madrid - The Meliá Madrid Princesa Hotel. This 5 star, ultra modern hotel, with views of the Royal Palace, is located in western Madrid, 8 minutes walk from Plaza España. DAY 2 GRANADA Travelling by AVE express train we enter Andalusia and reach Cordoba late morning. Here we are joined by a local guide who will show us the major sights and take us through the famous 8th century, UNESCO World Heritage listed Mesquita – the Cathedral and former Great Mosque of Córdoba. Later we join our touring coach and drive through to the famous city of Granada where we stay two nights. Dinner tonight is in your wonderful hotel. (B, D) Your feature hotel in Granada - The Alhambra Palace Hotel. Experience a revival of a grand tradition of European hospitality at the famous Hotel Alhambra Palace. Inspired by the beauty of the Alhambra, this hotel conjures up a sense of culture, aristocracy and elegance. Dominating the hill of Sabika, it is only a 5 minute walk to the Alhambra Palaces and gardens. Take time to relax on one of the terraces and take in the huge views across the city. Visit the web site to understand what this amazing hotel is really about. See www.h-alhambrapalace.es DAY 3 GRANADA This morning we are joined by a local guide who will take us through the incredible Alhambra and Generalife Gardens. With origins dating back to the 9th century and named for its reddish walls, this fortress complex looms high over the city. In the 13th and14th century the Moorish Emirates built the famous Nasrid Palaces surrounded by lavish gardens and courtyards. Moorish poets once described the Alhambra as "a pearl set in emeralds". This is one of the great sights of the world. This afternoon will be free in Granada’s old town which boasts a mixture of original Arab and Christian architecture, the Cathedral and Royal Chapel. (B) DAY 4 SEVILLE Cutting through the mountains we reach Ronda. Retaining much of its historic charm, it is famous for being divided by the deep El Tajo gorge which carries the Rio Guadalevín through its centre. The 18th century Puente Nuevo 'new' bridge, which spans the 100m chasm below, has stunning views out over the Serranía de Ronda Mountains. Take time to walk over the bridge and explore the old quarter looking for a characterful

PORTO 3

Alhambra Palace at Sunset

taberna to enjoy a leisurely lunch. Later we continue to Seville where we stay the next three nights. (B, D) Your feature hotel in Seville - Las Casas de la Judería. The Casas de la Judería are located in Seville’s Santa Cruz neighbourhood and the Cathedral is just a 10 minute walk away. Step back 5 centuries and this ‘antique’ hotel would have been 27 different ‘casas‘, or houses, in the old Jewish quarter. These historical timepieces have now been ‘assembled’ into one wonderful hotel, complete with connecting passages, arcaded courtyards, traditional Andalusian patios and classic décor. Many of the building's original features have been retained including antique furniture, ceramic floors and French windows. An amazing hotel. See www.casasypalacios.com DAY 5 SEVILLE Welcome to the home of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro. This morning we are joined by a local guide who will take us through the enormous cathedral and bring to life this wonderful capital of Andalusia. Your afternoon is at leisure. The Santa Cruz quarter is famous for its narrow streets, flowered balconies and hidden patios. Nearby are the Giralda Tower and the royal palace, the Alcazars of Seville. This evening we have included a special evening out to enjoy dinner and a traditional Flamenco show. (B, D) DAY 6 SEVILLE A leisurely start today as we enjoy an excursion to the Atlantic port of Cadiz. Situated on a peninsula, the seafront is lined with centuries-old houses and behind this you will find the grand cathedral surrounded by a historic centre of honeycombed narrow streets. Take time to explore and discover the

Braga Guimarães

SALAMANCA

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El Valle del los Caidos

Régua

Obidos

PORTUGAL

Sitia Nazaré

Merida

SPAIN

2 ÉVORA

Cordoba

SEVILLE 3

2 GRANADA

Tour commences Overnight Atlantic Oceanstays Included excursions

1 MADRID

TOLEDO 2 Estremoz

Sintra

3 LISBON

Alto Douro El Escorial

Jerez Cadiz

Ronda Mediterranean Sea

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Pena Palace

Ronda Bridge

small, pretty squares and pavement bars, which serve up some of Andalucia's tastiest seafood treats. After lunchtime we drive to nearby Jerez de la Frontera for a sherry tasting in a traditional Bodega (wine cellar). This evening is at leisure in glorious Seville. (B) DAY 7 ÉVORA Driving north we stop at Merida where we have included a visit to the remarkable UNESCO World Heritage listed Roman ruins, complete with an extraordinary Amphitheatre and Circus Maximus. After time to also explore the old town we cross into Portugal to enjoy an afternoon stop in the ‘marble town’ of Estremoz. We stay the next two nights in nearby Évora. (B, D) Your feature hotel in Évora - The M’AR de AR Muralhas. This hotel boasts a wonderful location in the historic centre of Évora, and a 5 minute walk from the famous Giraldo Square.The atmosphere is very relaxed with antique furnishings in the public areas. The lush gardens around the swimming pool, framed by the old city walls, make the perfect setting for shaded al fresco dining. See www.mardearhotels.com/muralhas/en/hotel DAY 8 ÉVORA The UNESCO World Heritage listed town of Évora is enchanting. Join our local guide to enjoy a walking tour to discover the rich history spanning 2,000 years. The compact centre of town is easily explored on foot and boasts a Roman temple, Moorish buildings, Christian monasteries and convents, medieval walls and a huge aqueduct. Your afternoon and evening are completely free to relax in this beautiful town. (B) DAY 9 LISBON After a short drive we reach the Portuguese capital of Lisbon where we stay the next three nights. After time at leisure, we meet our local guide for a tour to see the major sights of this wonderful, historical city - from the Belem Tower, to the fairytale palaces and the Discoveries Monument, built on the north bank of the Tagus River. The highlight will be a guided tour through the Jeronimos Monastery. Later we will stop to enjoy coffee and Portuguese Pastel de Nata (small, soft custard pies - served hot) in the famous Pastelaria de Belem which has a baking tradition dating back 175 years. (B, D) Your feature hotel in Lisbon - The Pestana Palace Hotel. A memorable stay in a historical atmosphere! Set in the truly beautiful surroundings of the carefully restored 19th century Palace Valle-Flôr, the 5 star Pestana Palace Hotel is listed as a Portuguese National Landmark. This luxurious and elegant hotel, set in its own private park, comes complete with magnificent chandeliers, tapestries and even a spa centre. It is a member of the ‘Leading Hotels of the World’ group. See www.hotelpestanapalace.com DAY 10 LISBON Today we visit the nearby Palace de Pena and explore the old town of Sintra. Dating back 500 years the Palace de Pena was originally a peaceful 26

No visit to Portugal would be complete without sampling a glass of smooth white Vinho Verde in an age old, historical wine estate. Visiting the 350 year old Quinta da Aveleda winery is like stepping into a different world. Behind its large entrance gate, you will find the villa and 160 hectares of manicured vines. The winery is surrounded by magnificent gardens and century-old trees. Your hosts, the Guedes family, keep ancestral traditions alive, creating award winning Vinho Verde wine. An absolutely ‘Magnifico’ experience. See Day 14.

monastery until destroyed by an earthquake. Due to its fantastic hill top location Ferdinand II rebuilt it to be the luxurious summer palace of the royal family. With stupendous views - on a clear day you can easily see Lisbon – the palace is one of the greatest expressions of 19th century architectural romanticism in the world. We have included a guided visit through this UNESCO World Heritage site which is also classified as one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Portugal’. Later, we will enjoy lunchtime in the delightful town of Sintra. Its noble villas and palaces prompted Lord Byron to say the town was “perhaps in every respect the most delightful in Europe". This evening enjoy a special treat as we visit the Alfama quarter to enjoy dinner and a traditional Portuguese Fado show. (B, D) DAY 11 LISBON Relax and enjoy a wonderful free day at leisure to explore Lisbon independently. There is so much to see and enjoy. The second oldest capital in Europe, Lisbon is built on a series of undulating hills, with grand sights, paved avenues, museums, historical trams and colourful funiculars. Perhaps also take the train to explore the nearby seaside resort of Cascais. (B) DAY 12 PORTO Travelling north we enjoy a morning stop in medieval Obidos. Known as one of Europe's most romantic medieval villages, you will find picturesque cobblestone streets lined with colourful houses adorned with geraniums and bougainvillea and whitewashed churches – all of which is encircled by the walls of a 12th century castle. Lunchtime will be spent in the traditional fishing village of Nazaré. Here we have also included a funicular ride up to the overhanging village of Sitia, to take in the breathtaking views of the coastline. We continue to Porto where we stay three nights. (B, D)

‘Magnifico’ won the title I wanted to call this tour Paradors,

heart to two empires that stretched across the globe spanning centuries

Pousadas and Palaces because of the

of conquistadores, galleons, castles and monasteries, port and sherry,

stunning selection of ‘antique’ hotels

Fado and Flamenco, the strum of the Spanish guitar, the click of heels and

we stay in, but ‘Magnifico’ won the title. When designing it, it just struck

the clack of castanets. We had to do it justice.

me that we had a fantastic opportunity to create a dramatically

Where we stay adds so much depth and flavour. Distinctly Spanish

different tour staying in some of the most extraordinary ‘timepiece’ hotels

and Portuguese. The name ‘Magnifico’ won because the longer, 2 and 3

in Europe.

night stays in our selection of hotels set the scene wonderfully for our

We could quite easily have gone for modern, steel, concrete and glass

unique activities and inclusions – such as Portuguese pastries and coffee

first class hotels and kept the price down but that would be so boring, so

in Lisbon’s Belem district and chartering our own lunchtime cruise boat to

dull, so ordinary and would not have been even remotely sensitive to

sail on the Alto Douro. It is the complete touring experience which makes

these gorgeous, evocative destinations. Spain and Portugal - home and

it absolutely ‘Magnifico’.

Your feature hotel in Porto - The Infante De Sagres Hotel. Infante De Sagres is Porto’s leading boutique hotel. This 5-star hotel is located in Porto’s UNESCO World Heritage listed city centre, a 10-minute walk from the Cathedral. Set in a 1950’s style building the décor is stylish. Neo-baroque furnishing and antique chandeliers are combined with custom-made furnishings, flat-screen TVs and air conditioning. See www.hotelinfantesagres.pt DAY 13 PORTO After a city tour with a local guide, we cross the River Douro to Cais de Gaia. The city's stunning skyline is enhanced by the picturesque boats and the soaring Dom Luis Bridge. Here we visit one of the Port wine warehouses to sample this famous brew. The rest of the day is completely free. Visit the Avenida dos Aliados - a sloping boulevard lined with grand buildings, and the medieval streets and dark alleyways of the Ribeira which meander down to the riverfront square ("Praça da Ribeira"), the most picturesque spot in the city. Here you will find traditional boats moored by the quayside, overlooked by colourful trader’s houses. (B) DAY 14 PORTO First stop on our included full day excursion is at Braga where we take a funicular train up to the famous Bom Jesus Sanctuary. Built in 1784, this twin towered neoclassical church sits on top of a hill, above an enormous baroque staircase lined with chapels. Lunchtime will be spent amongst the medieval streets and historic monuments in the birthplace of Portugal – Guimarães. Later in the afternoon we sample Vinho Verde at the Aveleda Wine Estate with its magnificent gardens. Dinner tonight will be in a local restaurant (B, D) DAY 15 SALAMANCA Crossing the country we join the River Douro at Régua where we board a

The River Douro stretches from Spain’s Duruelo de la Sierra across to Porto in the West. But it is only the Alto Douro or ‘High’ Douro region that is UNESCO Heritage listed – a 2,000 year old wine-producing region with age old terraced vineyards, quintas (winery complexes) and villages. This is where we enjoy a unique 3 hour picnic cruise. We could board a large, impersonal tourist boat but instead we choose to charter our own private ‘Barco Rabelo’ to complete an amazing touring experience. Absolutely Albatross! See Day 15.

El Valle de los Caidos

vessel to cruise up the most scenic stretch of the Alto Douro river to Pinhao. Exclusively chartered for our use, your picnic cruise includes a port aperitif and lunch with wine and tea or coffee. Relax as we cruise past vineyards and riverside wine estates. Later we continue into Spain and arrive in Salamanca where we stay two nights. (B, L, D) Your hotel in Salamanca - Parador Hotel Salamanca.Whilst called a Parador, this hotel is actually very modern, stylish and distinctly first class. Facilities are excellent and furnishings elegant. Its spacious lounges are full of marble and the views from their huge picture windows over the ancient, monumental city are fantastic. DAY 16 SALAMANCA Salamanca has a largely pedestrian centre and the city brims with striking monuments and buildings such as the ancient university and cathedral, many of which are constructed out of golden stone. After a fascinating walking tour with a local guide, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Make sure you relax in a café on Plaza Mayor, one of the finest squares in Spain. (B) DAY 17 TOLEDO Passing the walled city of Avila we spend the morning in El Valle de los Caidos (The Valley of the Fallen). Set in the woodlands of the Sierra de Guadarrama hills, the enormous Basílica de la Santa Cruz is remarkable as it is actually underground - hewn out of the centre granite ridge which is topped by the tallest memorial cross in the world. We spend lunchtime amongst the leafy squares of El Escorial before visiting the massive palace monastery complex of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Later we continue to Toledo, in La Mancha, where we stay our last two nights. (B, D) Your feature hotel in Toledo - The Parador Toledo Hotel. Located on a hilltop position on Cerro del Emperador (the Emperor's Hill), there are stunning 180° views from the hotel’s dining room, terraces and pool, across the old Arab fortress and the whole cathedral city of Toledo. The interior of the Parador of Toledo is 27

spacious and beautifully furnished and the Arab influence is reflected by the rugs, copper ware and decorative tiles. DAY 18 TOLEDO This morning we are joined by a local guide who will take us on a walking tour of this amazing city.Toledo has a wealth of monuments. Christians, Arabs and Jews lived together here for centuries hence it is sometimes called the “city of the three cultures”. Here you will find a city crammed with churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues. Highlight of your day will be a visit to Catedral Primada Santa María de Toledo, which many consider to be Spain’s finest cathedral. The shopping is excellent and the rest of your day is free. This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner in your historic hotel. (B, D) DAY 19 TOLEDO After breakfast we will transfer you to Madrid where sadly your tour ends late morning. Drop off points will the city centre followed by the airport. (B)

Tour Inclusions • • • • • • • • • •

•

•

All the sightseeing, scenic drives and excursions (as per the itinerary) Fully escorted by our experienced Tour Manager First class air-conditioned touring coach End of tour tips to Tour Manager, driver and local guides 18 nights selected accommodation as described Hotel porterage (1 bag per person) Buffet breakfasts daily 12 dinners including welcome and farewell dinners, Flamenco Dinner show, Fado Dinner show, local restaurant dinner in Porto Local guides – Córdoba, Granada, Seville, Évora, Lisbon, Palace de Pena, Porto, Salamanca, Toledo Entrances: Mesquita Córdoba, Alhambra Granada, Seville Cathedral, Palace de Pena, Jeronimos Monastery, El Valle de los Caidos, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Toledo Cathedral Welcome drink, Jerez sherry tasting in a Bodega, funicular rides to the Bom Jesus Sanctuary and the village of Sitia, port warehouse visit and tasting, coffee and Pastel de Belem in Lisbon, Aveleda Vinho Verde wine tasting, lunchtime picnic cruise on the River Douro, AVE train Madrid to Cordoba Personal audio system whilst on tour

2014 Dates and Prices 19 days only $7,249 pp twin share

SPECIAL Early Bird Offer

Single supplement $1,889 (land only prices in Australian dollars)

Special Earlybird Offer - Book by 22 Dec 2013 to save $300 pp!

Bom Jesus Portugal

STARTS 28 April 5 May 12 May 19 May 2 June

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ENDS 16 May 23 May 30 May 6 June 20 June

STARTS 25 August 8 September 15 September 22 September 6 October

ENDS 12 September 26 September 3 October 10 October 24 October

‘I love everything about Albatross. The accommodation is always good. I like the longer stays at places and the content of the trip is well thought out. This is my fourth trip I have done with Albatross and I highly recommend them to anyone who talks travel to me. ‘ Leeta

Y O U R

H O T E L

E X P E R I E N C E

‘Magnifico’ Spain and Portugal Here are just a few photos representing our selection of stunning hotels. Stay in historical hotels, Pousadas and Paradors – converted castles, convents, fortresses and even palaces -‘antique’ hotels with a meaning, reflecting the essence of these gorgeous, evocative destinations. Above, the lobby of the Alhambra Palace Hotel reeks of tradition and distinctly Spanish grandeur, as does the restaurant and bar with its sweeping views across Granada far below. In Seville, we step back 500 years, to where 27 beautifully restored houses and villas have been joined into one ‘historical timepiece’ hotel – the Las Casas de la Juderia. And bottom right, your bed awaits you in Toledo’s Parador, looking over the old town’s twinkling lights. We did not choose Lisbon’s Pestana Palace (photos to the right) because it is a 5 star hotel. We did so because it is a restored 19th century Palace, a listed Portuguese National Landmark, with a historical atmosphere set in beautiful surroundings. Mind you the luxury tag certainly does help! To see more photos plus our other specially selected hotels visit www.albatrosstours.com.

Clockwise from main: Lobby – Alhambra Palace Hotel; Interior – Pestana Palace; Exterior – Pestana Palace; Parador Toledo Hotel; Alhambra Palace Hotel; Hotel Las casas de la Juderia, Seville

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